Generally it is best to not touch the fish at all if possible. Many times a net is easier on the fish than not, particularly if fishing from a boat. What I like to do is net the fish but keep the net in the water. Then grab a pair of pliers, lean over the edge, and gently remove the hook. Then sink the net and reverse it which lets the fish swim free without ever touching it. If fishing from shore find a gentle sloping shoreline, slide the fish up to the shallows, do not remove the fish from the water, and then remove the hook with as little handling as possible.

Tailing the fish can be particularly damaging to spring chinook. Spring chinook are generally caught when water temperatures are very cold but these fish then move to tribuatary areas to spawn. The fish hold in the tributaries until late August before spawning. Many of the tributaries have water temperatures that are marginal for spring chinook and the first place to fungus up is where slime has been removed...the caudal peduncle...the area we fisherman like to grab which can and does lead to pre-spawn mortaility. Whenever possible try not to handle a fish that is to be released in any way.

RM